An Cosantóir July/August 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie
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by LT STEPHEN CUNNINGHAM, 1 MECH INF COY
PHotoS by CPL NEVILLE COUGHLAN
Do I get money
for this?" asked the
exercise role player,
catching the student
officer off-guard.
"Eh…Not for this one
but by giving us this
information you'll
help us make the
area safer.
T
he above conversation occurred during a Key Leader
Engagement (KLE), which was designed to take a
student officer out of their comfort zone as part of
a build up to an operation to disrupt illicit arms trading
in Field training Exercise CAPStoNE - the confirmation
exercise of the 10th Platoon Commander's Peace Support
Course (APC Command Sub-Course).
During FTX CAPSTONE 16, students of the 10th Platoon
Commander's Peace Support Course (10th PCPSC) were
exercised in the role of Mechanised Infantry Platoon Com-
mander in a Peace Support Environment. In their roles as
Mech Inf Pl Comds, they were exposed to the numerous
challenges associated with operating from Mowag Ar-
moured Personnel Carriers. These include the requirement
for detailed planning of logistical support, navigation by
road, and fully utilising the experience of the APC Crewmen
under their command, while applying all of the knowledge
they had gained throughout their Peace Support Course to
a complex training exercise.
During the exercise they were faced with a mobile and
intelligent Opposing Force (OPFOR), who progressively
became more of a threat due to the intensity of the Area
Domination Patrols conducted by the students and the
discovery and confiscation of OPFOR arms caches. While
operating as a standalone Mechanised Infantry Company
(-) from a hangar in Gormanston Camp, the students were
also exposed to, and supported by Military Police Dispatch
Riders for convoy escort, an Engineer Specialist Search and
"
"
